On Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019, the Kent Chamber of Commerce held its Membership Luncheon on the ‘State of Economic Affairs in Kent’ with Chief Economic Development Officer Bill Ellis.

The membership luncheon event was held at the Green River College campus at Kent Station Thursday afternoon.

Ellis spoke about:

  • The state of the economy in Kent (hint: it’s really growing!).
  • There are 10,000+ businesses in the valley, with 252,000 employees and $6.7 billion in revenue.
  • KentValleyWA.com, a new website that promotes business and economic development in the Kent Valley.
  • There’s are more vacancies for office space than for manufacturing space.
  • Among manufacturing spaces, the greatest need seems to be in the 8,000-20,000 square foot properties. Many businesses have reported to Ellis that this has been one of their biggest struggles.
  • Space, avionics, aerospace and other high-tech companies are effecting jobs in the area.
  • Jobs, housing and other growing pains the area is going through.

Watch Ellis’ full presentation below (running time 36:16):

Scott Schaefer

Founder/Publisher/Editor. Three-time National Emmy Award winning Writer (“Bill Nye the Science Guy”), Director, Producer, Journalist and more...